1 series

With the four-digit P-series, Nikon has had a number of high-end compact cameras in its setup for some years now. However, simply putting all the latest point-and-shoot tech into a body with lots of buttons and dials doesn’t cut it anymore these days. With its relatively small 1/1.7″ sensor and medium-fast zoom lens, the current P7800 isn’t really up there with the best of the bunch, and so a replacement can be expect to come soon. According to Nikon Rumors, the P7800’s successor will be the P8000, and it will up the ante just enough to make it a more attractive option to potential buyers.

The P8000 will reportedly sport a larger 1″ sensor, which is the same size as in Nikon’s 1-series of interchangeable-lens cameras. In addition to the larger sensor with its better overall image quality, the P8000 will also sport a slightly faster 5x zoom lens, which still starts at f2 but only goes down to f3 at the telephoto end, as opposed to the P7800’s f4. Speaking of telephoto, the P8000’s lens will be a 24-120mm equivalent, so this is a significant step down from the P7800’s 28-300mm equivalent.

Additional features of the P8000 will be a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 second, Expeed 3 image sensor, a magnesium body, and of course the ever-present 3″ screen on the back. The camera is reported to appear some time between April and May, so we won’t have to wait much longer until we can be certain whether it’s real.

There’s also news for users of Nikon’s 1-system, which might soon see the addition of a 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR zoom lens. To put things into perspective, due to the 1″ sensor’s 2.7x crop factor, this lens would be equivalent to a 190-810mm lens on a 35mm full-frame camera! That’s quite a lot of telephoto. In order to keep the size of the lens down–after all, it must fit with the tiny 1-series cameras–, it’s going to sport a collapsible design just like the recently announced 18-55mm DX kit lens. Unlike the P8000 camera, the 70-300mm 1-Nikkor will already be announced this month, according to Nikon Rumors.

While the 1 series cameras are very much targeted at the folks that just want an interchangeable lens camera in a small size, a new patent hints that Nikon may be trying to reach for a higher end customer now. Nikon Rumors is reporting on a brand new camera with additional drawings on their site. The new 1 series camera seems to have more of a finish similar to that of their DSLRs, the Nikon red badge, a real mode dial, and apparently some sort of exposure control dial on the back.

Considering how much hype there is over Sony’s RX100 Mk II 1 inch sensor, Nikon might be trying to take advantage and compete in that market just a bit more with an ILC of some sort.

Over at Nikon Rumors, a couple of concept drawings for Nikon 1-series cameras have been unearthed, together with some lens patents. Whether or not we actually see upcoming cameras and lenses in these sketches cannot be said definitely, but two of the camera concepts look like they could be the next 1 J and 1 S models. The third concept drawing seems to show an even more simplified camera body that might be operated mostly via touchscreen. As to the lenses, there are patents for an 11-28mm f3.5-5.4 lens, a 10-47mm f2.8-7 lens (both CX) as well as 40mm f3.5 VR macro lens for Nikon DX cameras.

Many of the more discerning photographers gawk at the Nikon 1 series cameras. With their 1 inch sized sensor and interface aimed at the amateur and entry level enthusiast, the line isn’t exactly looked at with gleaming eyes by the pros–and it isn’t marketed to be either. So when Nikon announced their 32mm f1.2 lens for the 1 series cameras, we were a bit shocked. The lens gives an equivalent field of view of a standard portrait lens and in many ways is quite impressive and surprising. Nikon’s 32mm f1.2 has 9 elements, 7 aperture blades, and an all metal construction on the outside.

Close up adapters are fun for those that love to do macro shooting on the cheap. So recently, Nikon announced a new close up filter for their VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 and 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 lenses along with any others with a 40.5mm filter thread. According to their press release, the new N1-CL1 close up adapter is being marketed by pushing the background blur aspect pretty hard–also known affectionately as bokeh.

While many smarter photographers may think of the Nikon 1 series cameras as a joke, consider the fact that the series took the lead last year in mirrorless camera sales. Surely, Ashton Kutcher’s fugly mug might have helped, but according to salesmen at other stores (I used to work at B&H Photo) the sales incentive was extremely high–as were the commissions.

Fans of the Nikon 1 series of cameras are now in for a treat–today the company is announcing a 32mm f1.2 lens which equates to an 86.4mm field of view. In other words, 1 series users now have a portrait lens. It features a Nano-crystal coating on the lenses and also has a metal exterior. Nikon’s silent wave motor technology is also present. The manual focusing ring looks a tad small, but we’re not sure many people will be manually focusing with this anyway.

And because Nikon users love their options, it will come in Black and Silver and retail for $896.96.